The United States and its Five Eyes intelligence partners have issued what they described as an unprecedented joint notice warning about attempts by Chinese spies to use professional networking websites such as LinkedIn to recruit assets.
Unprecedented Joint Warning
According to intelligence agencies, Chinese spies have commissioned reports from individuals they have approached on LinkedIn, paying them anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The Five Eyes nations—comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—share special access to each other's intelligence and collaborate on security threats.
The joint statement, issued by the FBI, Britain's MI5 security service, and the domestic intelligence agencies of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, highlighted that China's military intelligence services are using an increasingly wide array of professional networking sites and online job platforms. These platforms are being used to target Five Eyes government and military personnel, as well as anyone with access to classified or privileged information.
Aggressive Online Recruitment Strategy
The agencies stated that these actors employ an aggressive online recruitment strategy. Intelligence officers or their affiliates pose as employees of private consultancies, think tanks, or human resources firms and place online job advertisements for foreign policy and defense analysts. This strategy aims to lure individuals with security clearances or sensitive information.
The warning reflects ongoing concern about Chinese spying among the U.S. and its allies, despite recent efforts to improve ties with Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, and Britain's top diplomat, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, visited China this week.
China's Response
The Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom strongly condemned the accusations, calling the allegation of Chinese espionage threats entirely fabricated and malicious slander. In a statement Thursday, the embassy said that Five Eyes members have engaged in unscrupulous espionage and intelligence-gathering activities around the globe, posing a real threat to peace-loving countries.
Targeted Individuals
The Five Eyes nations reported that China targeted their nationals with security clearances, particularly those working in foreign affairs, security, and intelligence, as well as military personnel stationed in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, people with more peripheral access to government information, such as academics, journalists, and think tank employees, were also being approached.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that China has consistently demonstrated a willingness to disregard laws, norms, and international standards in pursuit of its intelligence objectives, often relying on deceptive online tactics to target Americans with access to privileged and sensitive information.
Background on Five Eyes
The Five Eyes alliance, which has its roots in U.S.-U.K. cooperation during World War II, is one of the world's most comprehensive spying alliances. The five English-speaking nations provide each other with special access to intelligence and share information on security threats. This joint warning marks a significant escalation in public awareness of cyber espionage tactics.
